The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-06-16
DIR. coRsoN,s LECTURE.
Some Views of an bingham County
Man With Regard to It.


sons lecture beforethe Georgia Historical
Society on the colored race in the United
States may have been a most excellent one
in many respects, both entertaining and
instructive, but some of his propositions and
conclusions seem to be at variance with
facts
That the African race is an inferior race
and that it can never gain the ascendancy
over the white race all admit, but that 1t
must eventually die out or become SO
merged into the dominant race as to hnally
lose its identity, is a statement easier made
than proven.
If the census returns of 1880 are worthy
of admission as evidence, the negro race Is
not only not dying out, but is more rapidly
increasing than the white race. Its true that
the doctor is disposed to rule out this testl-
mony, but this should not be allowed until
positive proof is given that it is utterly
false and unreliable.
According to the census of 1870 the white
population of the United States at that
time was 80, 5S9, 377: in 1880 it was 43, 402,
go, an increase of % per cent. in ten years.
During the same period the negro popula-
ton increased from 1880, 900 to $3.50, 1913, an
increase of 81 As per cent. The difference
in the ratio of increase is more marked
when we remember the large number
of foreigners who came to this
country between 1870 and 1880. Should the
present ratio of increase continue, which, in
view of the constantly growing foreign
population, is not probable, the negro popu-
lation will eventually not only equal, but
even outnumber the white population.
Should this very improbable result ever be
reached, there need be no alarm as to which
race will be in the ascendancy. The people
of superior intelligence and morality will
always control the government If the
| ,.atu roll h1p thing nVi-
dent-that is, the negro race is not dying
out.
The fact is further supported by the official
mortuary report of the city of Savannah
for the week ending June 3, 1887. White
population, 26 ,675; colored population, 49,
Ill; desths-white, 20; blacks, A. Annual
ratio per | 900 population for week-whltes,
SO 9; blacks. 3S.2 The ratio of deaths is
nearly equal, the statistics being slightly in
favor of the negro
The theory of miscegenation is not a very
palatable one, especially to Southern people,
and it seems to be no better sustained than
the statement that the race is dying out.
Taking the logic of facts as they stand it is
more reasonable to suppose that the negro
will absorb the mulatto than that they shall
| be absorbed by the whites. 1t is
fact well known to informed South
ern men that there are more ''black"
negroes than mulattoes. 1t is also true that
| a majority of the mulatto children now
being born are from parents both of whom
are mulattoes, or one is mulatto and the
| other a black. Comparatively few colored
children of the present day have white
| fathers, and the number is growing beautl-
| fully less. This is strong inferential evil
donce that the diffusion of education and
the light of the gospel among the negroes is
making them better people, more virtuous
and more intelligent.
The number of negro children (black or
| mulattO) born outside of lawful wedlOck
was never smaller than at present.
| Marriages between whites and negroes are
| of the rarest occurrence, and when found
are from the lowest walks of society
| Public opinion must be completely revo-
| lutionized before the theory of miscegena-
ton can become in the slightest degree
plausible, but as the genuine negro largely
| outnumberS the mulatto and as there is less
wickedness among the whites and negroes
looking to the perpetuation of the mulatto
| than formerly, it is highly probable that the
| negro will finally absorb the mulatto. This
| is certain, if some white men viii be less in
innate with race whom they profess to de-
spise. If the whites will improve the edu
cational advantages offered them, and will
| give their children proper moral and relig-
| ious training, and at the same time
do all they can to improve
the moral, intellectual and spiritual con-
dition of the negro, the country will always
be sober, industrious and prosperous. The
best interest of both races will be advanced
and the destiny of each will be ordained by
a wise and benificent Providence.
The future of the negro is a problem, that
no man can solve. Every effort in this
direction is mere conjecture. 1t is known
only to God. In the light of christianity
our duty is to do them all the good we can.
| Christ died for every creature and tasted
| death for every man, and if the Christian
does not condescend to lift up the lowly and
| depraved of every race and cline the disci-
| pie is above his Master 1t is a severe criti-
| cism upon the purity of any individual or a
| nation that refuses to aid in a work which
tile Master died to accomplish.
/ Let every citizen, patriot and Christian do
all he can to build up the material and spir-
itual interests of his country, and do all the
| good he can to all the people he
can, and he will do much to sup
press crime and bless his fellow man.
Righteousness exalteth nation, but sin is
a reproach to any people" "When the
righteous are in authority the people Pc
| joice. but when the wicked beareth rule the
| people mourn"
This divine truth should inspire us to use
every effort to diffuse intelligence, morality
and Righteousness among all the people, that
our nation may be exalted and that the
strongholds of Satan and sin may be de-
stroyed. Then shall we be nation whose
God is the Lord and whose people shall re-
joce, and the problems which no man can
solve will be committed to the wisdom of
Almighty God. w. c. DAVIS.
Springfield, E6inghom county, Ga,
June IA.